Terminal connecter



jam. 8, 199.

w. T. HALEY. ET AL TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed May 5. 192

fig": N

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

WILLIAM T. HALEY AND ROGER It, WILLIAMS, OF CHRISTOPHER, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL CONNEGTER.

Application filed May 15, 1923. Serial No.-109,346.

This invention relates to terminal connecters and more particularly toa. terminal connecter for use in connecting battery leads to theterminals of storage batteries.

.5 An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will very firmly clamp the storage battery terminal soas to provide a good electrical connection between the lead and batteryand To which is so constructed that tightening of the securing elementtends to force the battery terminal down upon the tapered terminal postof the battery so as to increase the contact pressure between the leadand terminal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is so' constructed that in the natural manner ofapplying the same, the tendency to firm engagement is increased both bythe application of'weight and pressure in the operation of the securingelement.

' These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying 5 drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred, embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is. a planview showing a terminal connecter constructed in accordance with ourinvention applied to a battery ter minal; a

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough with the lockingmember in the locking position; I

Figure 4 1s a plan view partially 'in sec-v tion showing the device inposition tore ceive the terminal;

Fi res 5 and 6 are similar sectional views taken through the lockingmember at the groove showing the position of the lockin member whenreceiving the terminal and w an locking the same res ctively. VReferring now more particulairly to the 5 drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a tapered battery terminal and 11 a terminalconnecter for connectin to the battery terminal a lead wire 12. T eterminal connecter 11 is in the form of a body 13 v having a bore 14tapered to conform to the tapering of the terminal post. One end of thisbody is formed with a socket 15 in which the lead 12 may be inserted andsealed. The body is formed with a second is bore 16 having its axis atapproximately right angles to the bore 15, sai ore 16 par- 'of theterminal. tweenthe point 19 and the end 21 of the be maintained atall'times.

tially intersecting the bore 15. 'Rotatable within the bore 16 is asecuring element 17 having. at one end an operating head by means ofwhich it may be rotated and pro vided with indicia v18 providing theproper direction of rotation. This securing element 1 is formed with agroove 18 in alignment with the axis of the bore 14, which grooveextends partially around the securing element and at a point 19 and isof such depth that when this portion of: the groove is aligned with thebore 14, thebore 14 is unobstructed. From this point, the bore rapidlydecreases in depth toward one end 20 7 of the groove and graduallydecreases in.

depth toward the opposite end 21 thereof.

The base of the groove is curved in the general direction of the axis ofthe securing element with a curvature similar to the curvature of thewall of the bore 14 at the point of its intersection by the bore 16.

In the use of the connecter, the same is placed upon the terminal withthe securing element so positioned that the point 19 of the groovealigns with the bore 14 When. the terminal is applied, any tendency torotate the same in the wrongdirection will be frustrated by theengagement of the bot tom wall of the bore between the point 19 and theend 21 of the groove against the side It will be noted that be groove,the curvature at the bottom of the groove is on a true radius eccentricand internally tangential to the securing element, while at that portionof the. groove lying between the point 19 and the en 20, the bottom ofthe groove is tangential to the eccentric portion; Botation'of thesecuring element in the proper direction tends to wedge the connecterdownwardly -upon the terminal, due to the fact that the rotation of thesecuring element sets up frictional engages ment between the terminalpostand the se-' curing element, and this friction results in a tendencyof the securing element to roll upon the face of the'terminal in thedirection in which. it is rotated. Since the securing element, aspointed, out, can only be rotated in one direction and when rotated inthat direction will tend to move downwardly upon the post, a very.secure wedging1 action will T is tendency is further assisted by thefact that in order to properl rotate the securing eler'nentjit ispractice y impossible to engage a wrench like, a body having a bore toreceive and fit a terminal and having a second bore at approximatelyright angles to the first named bore and partially intersecting thesame,- a

securing element rotatable and fitting neeaeae Within the last namedhere, said securing element having a groove extending partially aroundits circumference, said groove at a point intermediate its ends being ofsuch depth thatwhen aligned with the first named bore said here isuninterrupted to permit the passage of the terminal, the bottom of thegroove between said point and one end of the groove being curved andeccentric to the axis or the securing element and internally tangentialto the periphery of the body of the securing element, the bottom of saidgroove between said point and the opposite end of the groove beingtangential to said eccentric portion.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM T. HALEY.

RGGER R. LLIAMS.

